Switched reluctance motor control with partially disabled operation capability

Electric control apparatus for a multi-pole, switched reluctance electrical machine having a plurality of phase winding circuits, each of the phase winding circuits having a plurality of phase windings therein between a pair of winding connection terminals, the apparatus comprising, in combination:

• for each of the phase winding circuits, a phase control circuit having pair of power terminals providing connection points for application of externally sourced electrical power thereto and a pair of electronic switches in series between the power terminals, the phase windings of the associated phase winding circuit being connected between the pair of electronic switches so that the pair of electronic switches control application of the externally sourced electric power to, and thus the current through, the phase windings;
• in each of the phase winding circuits, a plurality of free-wheeling diodes creating inductive energy dissipating current paths therein for protection of the electronic switches;
• and
• a switch control apparatus connected to control terminals of the electronic switches, the switch control apparatus comprising:
• means for activating the pair of electronic switches of at least one of the phase winding circuits to provide electric power to the one of the phase winding circuits through a motor movement distance wherein inductance of the phase windings thereof is increasing;
• means for monitoring at least one motor parameter to detect at least one predetermined circuit fault comprising one of a short circuit and an open circuit of an element within the one of the phase winding circuits;
• and
• means responsive to detection of the predetermined circuit fault for continuing operation of the one of the phase winding circuits with at least a continuing one of the pair of electronic switches and with at least one of the two following modifications:
• (1) ending the activation of the continuing one of the pair of electronic switches at a fault motor position prior to a no-fault motor position at which the activation would be ended in the absence of detection of the predetermined circuit fault, and
• (2) activating the continuing one of the pair of electronic switches to control maximum current through the one of the phase winding circuits to a fault maximum current level less than a no-fault maximum current level permitted in the absence of detection of the predetermined circuit fault.